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I know that about 90% of the BG population highly supports dual wielding if possible but my mate told me off and said that 2 hand is far superior then dual. Just want a show of hands to see who supports what styles

If you're into powergaming, let most of your characters dual-wield. The multitude of weapons with special effects such as an extra attack, extra strength, or a more offensive ability such as slowing your opponents, surely make this fighting style the most powerful. There are just a few two-handen weapons that are too powerful not to use, so you'll probably go with one two-handed fighting character.

If you want to roleplay, you'll have a mix of all styles. Remember that fighting with two weapons at the same time is extremely difficult, and not many warriors would like to be left shieldless. Using a shield would thus be a common fighting style among warriors and clerics. Stronger warriors could also opt for using two-handed swords, but those are fewer in number than "sword 'n' shield" characters. More roguish (thieves, bards, or even rangers: the weight and encumbrance of a shield might be too much to effectively travel through wilderness) characters will probably be using a one-handed weapon in conjunction with a bow. They might also be dual-wielding, but not with two long swords or something similar: the off-hand weapon should be light and easy to use, so daggers or short swords come to mind as secondary weapons. Wizards ans sorcerors are more likely to wield a staff because it is both a simple weapon and an item that can easily be enchanted. Also, most powerful mages are somewhat older, and might be using their staff more as walking sticks than as melee weapon .

In my party, the distribution is as follows:
Me (Stalker): Long sword/short bow
Jaheira: Spear
Anomen: Mace and shield
Imoen: Long sword/short bow

My conclusion:
Powergaming: dual-wield and a few two-handed
Roleplaying: sword 'n' shield and two-handed, a few dual-wielding

TC, Geert

Actually... dual-wielding is historically supported. Plenty of duelists did it. It's not too great for soldiers, though. Clumsy in formations, and it's kinda awkward blocking a hail of arrows without a shield.

My bard is half drow, so he uses duel scimitars

[ 12-25-2001: Message edited by: craig ]

In real history, a japanese living in the middle age invented 2 weapon style.
He was master of blades-> his name Musashi.
He killed over 60 men in one to one combat until he found out , that he was a master with blades.

-> my tip-> read the book, called MUSASHI

for the topic-> 2 weapon style is strongest

Although Mr Miyamoto Musashi is an idol of mine but I dont really recommend his book. 1 thing though he uses a short sword and a longer one in combat so get a kensai name him musashi and dual him with a Celestial fury/hindo's doom and a short sword of mask and start kicking ass

duel weilding rocks, but keep it to then roleplaying!

I just got done with a game in which my character was an EVIL Kensai. I only gave him two handed weapons, and it was a blast. There are some truly heinous 2H weapons out there to play with. With ** in Two Handed Style, and ***** in both 2H Sword and Halberd the character was quite grim.

I wouldn't reccomend 2H weapons without the style above, the perks of which are increased weapon speed, critical since 2H weapons are quite slow, and critical hits on 19-20 instead of just 20. Granted that many of the foes you face are helmed, or immune to crits, it is still darn nice against the bulk of your enemies.

On the other hand, Korgan was dual wielding Hammer and Axe and he was pretty grim too. The extra attack is pretty nice, as is the stacking abilities from various weapons, such as multiple types of elemental damage.

I think that they both have their merits, and as the others above have stated - dual wielding is more for power gaming.

My final thought on the matter is that an extra attack is not that big a deal once you get your first Whirlwind.

Ultimately - go with what you think will be most fun, that /is/ the point, right?

Duel weild
adv: two different effects, extra attack
disadv: bad Thac0 if not proporly equiped to do it, requires proficiencies put into it

2 handed
adv: mean damage, criticals often
disadv: not as many attacks

Sword n' Sheild
adv: insane AC, sheild benefits
disadv: not as many attacks, there are not alot of good sheilds

Originally posted by craig:
<STRONG>duel weilding rocks, but keep it to then roleplaying!</STRONG>

e.g. don't have your dual-wielders switch to ranged weapons mid-battle.

Well, dualwielding is a must for a fighter soloing i must say, but For roleplaying its not that great, the only dualwielding i can agree on is a shortsword and a longsword or similar.. 2 great warhammers seem stupid, but is great, FoA and Crom faeyr rules but isnt very much roleplay, if you think about it.

Still, it doesnt hinder me

1 thing about dual when soloing is i always use either crom Fayr or Frail of Ages with celestial fury.

Celestial fury's ability to stun someone is very useful especially when you are facing multiple enemies at once. even after getting hindos doom i still prefer celestial fury.

Originally posted by Char_Aznable:
<STRONG>Celestial fury's ability to stun someone is very useful especially when you are facing multiple enemies at once. even after getting hindos doom i still prefer celestial fury.</STRONG>

Especially good if you start things off with a greater malison or even just doom spell.

When soloing I always use the Shield of Harmony.

Originally posted by Aegnor:
<STRONG>e.g. don't have your dual-wielders switch to ranged weapons mid-battle. </STRONG>

Its actually quite simple to do so.Just drop your swords and take the bow, strapped to your back.Drizzt does it all the time.

But switching back to melee weapons is a bit harder. You'll also have to drop your bow, so you can't do it twice .

TC, Geert

The best method I found was to have my kensai weild a 2H sword, since this gives him a greater reach & allows him to be further back from the action. I have Korgan wielding the Crom Fayer and the Sentinel Sheild. Since he is normally closer to the action, enemies tend to target him & he has awesome hitpoints and a horrendously low AC, thus he can easily soak up most of their blows. Meanwhile my kensai, standing behind him, tears enemies to tatters with the Silver Sword or Gram.

Finally I think that dual wielding is grossly overrated. It is never worth missing out on the defensive benefits of the various excellent sheilds available, for a single attack per round at +2 Thac0.

Dual wielding only makes sense for kensais especially when they use the kai ability, however I think that the method mentioned above is superior - Give a kensai Boots of Speed & just sit back and watch.

Talking about Kensai, I have never really used them before. I've always dual them to a Kensai/Mage. My hasted Ken/Mage with stoneskin, and some other protection spell armed with a dragon slayer and celestial Fury easily took down Firkraag and the 2 black dragons in SOA by himself. Too bad I have not tried soloing with a Ken/Mage in TOB yet.

I have/had a Half-orc who used dual morning stars he could onlydo that cos of his "immense strengh"(ie Half-orc)

Absolute misses the point with dualwielding. It is not only the attack, but mostly the special skill of the offhand weapon that is great. For example crom faeyr raises str to 25, making the firsthands attacks much stronger and probably adds a lot to THAC0 as well.

FoA has free action, the other great warhammer has negative plane protection. I cant see any shield making up for this.. AC is extremely low anyway... And magic is the mayor problem, not normal attacks